The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs seeks to (1) provide a broad background for careers in foreign and domestic public service and in the private sector where a knowledge of government and politics is necessary; (2) provide a broad background for and facilitate admission to law school through the prelaw emphasis; (3) prepare students for teaching. research, and graduate study in Political Science; (4) provide a broad background for careers in politics; and (5) educate citizens and promote their active interest in public affairs. Students should plan their major or minor in consultation with their departmental advisor according to their interests and career objectives.
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Co-op or internship credit cannot be used in this major without prior school approval.
- Students should regularly consult with their Academic Success Coach (ASC) and the School’s program advisor.
- The School Residency Requirement consists of at least 21 semester hours of regularly scheduled courses taken from the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý School of Politics, Security, and Int'l Affairs.
- All prerequisites of courses taught within the College of Sciences will be enforced.
- Courses designated in the General Education Program (GEP) and Common Program Prerequisites (CPPs) are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
Double major/dual degree policy in Political Science programs and minors
- Students who double major/degree in any Political Science track and International and Global Studies shall not count more than two courses toward both programs, except the following:
- POS 2041 - American National Government
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science
- Students who major in International and Global Studies, and minor in Political Science, shall not count more than one course toward both programs, except the following;
- POS 2041 - American National Government
- Students who major in any Political Science track, and minor in International and Global Studies, shall not count more than one course toward both programs.
- Students who double minor in Political Science and International and Global Studies shall not count more than one course toward both programs.
- The myKnight Audit cannot capture overlapping courses between two or more programs; therefore, students should have their program reviewed by your Academic Success Coach (ASC) or the School before filing for graduation.
Online Political Science, BA
Political Science (B.A.) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via ÐÔÊӽ紫ý online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
- To fulfill the 120 hours required of this degree, select primarily from upper-level courses after meeting with an Academic Success Coach (ASC) in consultation with the School’s program advisor. Courses may be outside the school.
- Internship Program: For students who excel, a limited number of internships may be available each semester for three to six hours of credit. Under the Internship Director, the student is typically placed in an office of local, state, or national government, a law office, or a campaign headquarters.
- No more than 9 credits of a combination of Honors in the Major, Independent Study, and Internship may be counted toward the major in Political Science, provided that no more than 50% of an Area be covered by such credits.
- Students who qualify for Senior Scholars Program may enroll in graduate-level courses to satisfy major requirements to take Area courses.
Foreign Language Requirements
Graduation
- Proficiency equivalent to two semesters of college instruction in a foreign language or in American Sign Language (ASL). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used. ASL proficiency is met by successful completion of ASL 2140 and ASL 2150 or an appropriate score on the ASL proficiency exam. Contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/csd/) regarding the ASL proficiency examination.
Program Exit Requirements
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses used to satisfy major requirements.
- Students will be required to take a standard exit exam during their graduating semester.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 ÐÔÊӽ紫ý GPA
- 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the State Writing and Math Requirement, and nine hours of Summer credit.
High Impact Learning Experiences
High Impact Learning Experiences are available to all students. Interested students may select from the following options:
- POS 3940 Internship*
- POS 3955 Study Abroad*
- POS 4903H Honors Directed Reading I*
- POS 4904H Honors Directed Reading II*
- POS 4912 Directed Independent Research*
- POS 4941 Internship*
- POS 4955 Study Abroad*
- POS 4970H Undergraduate Honors Thesis*
- Any course designated as Research Intensive
- Any course designated as Service Learning
- Any course designated as an Integrated Learning Experience
* These courses may also be taken with an INR, CPO, PUP, or POT prefix.
Honors Undergraduate Thesis
- Application and admissions through The Burnett Honors College. More information about Honors Undergraduate Thesis (HUT) can be found at honors.ucf.edu/research.
- Interested students who meet the requirements are encouraged to participate in the HUT program. Contact the school for information about the program and the HUT coordinator.
Related Programs
- Economics (B.S.)
- History (B.A.)
- Diplomacy Certificate
- Intelligence and National Security Certificate
- Civics Teaching Certificate
- Economics Minor
- History Minor
- Psychology Minor
- Sociology Minor
- Philosophy Minor
Advising Notes
- Students should consult with the School's program advisor.
- Contact your Academic Success Coach (ASC) in the College of Sciences Advising Services (COSAS) office (CSB 250) for more information about overall progress toward your degree, GEP and other university requirements, academic probation, special problems as well as general academic advising.
- No more than 9 credits of a combination of Honors in the Major, Independent Study, and Internship may be counted toward the major in Political Science, provided that no more than 50% of an Area be covered by such credits.
Transfer Notes
- Lower-division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
- Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.
- The following substitutions for common program prerequisites are acceptable if taken prior to transferring to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý:
- POS 2041: any three hours of introductory Political Science classes will satisfy the CPP. However since this course is required in the core of the major and is a prerequisite to subsequent courses, it still must be taken.
- POS 3703: any three hours of introductory Political Science classes will satisfy the CPP. However since this course is required in the core of the major, it still must be taken.
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $5 per term
- Full-Time Student: $10 per term
